How to get rid of the Windows 9X driver for the USB interface when installed by mistake on or XP.

Installing the wrong USB driver by mistake on a PC with Windows 2000 or XP, and then try to install the correct Windows 2000 driver can prove to be a really frustrating experience.

During installation of the USB driver, the found new hardware wizard will happily accept the Windows 9X driver until the very end of the installation where it will report an error.

Picture 1 – Hardware Wizard error

Even though the Windows 9X driver is of no use for 2000 or XP the hardware wizard will continue to suggest and try to install use the wrong driver unless you very firmly direct it to use the right one.

The procedure to update to the correct driver differs a little between Windows 2000 and XP – but the first part is identical.

Open the Hardware device manager Right click My Computer, select Properties, select the Hardware Tab, click Device Manager.

Picture 2 – Error on USB device (the yellow exclamation mark)

Locate the USB interface in the list (USB devices are usually at the very bottom). Right click the device, select Properties Select the Driver tab Select Update Driver – this starts the Hardware Wizard

Windows 2000 (for XP see below) Click Next Select Search for a suitable driver for my device – click next Select Specify a Location Browse to \HardwareDrivers\USB\W2K – select the file called siudi2000.inf (do NOT select miudi.inf, even if you come across it) Click Ok

Picture 3 – Windows suggesting the wrong driver (W2000)

Now, even though you have instructed the Wizard to use a new driver it will still suggest to use the old (Windows9X) driver – but it should also find the new driver as well, so make sure to check Install one of the other drivers – then click Next.

Picture 4 – selecting the correct driver (W2000)

The Wizard now allows you to select between the drivers it has found – make sure to select the one marked Martin Intelligent USB Interface (do not select Martin LightJockey USB – this is the wrong one). Click Next and finish the Hardware Wizard. Finally check the device manager and make sure that you now see a Martin Intelligent Usb DMX Interface in the list – without the yellow exclamation mark.

If this procedure still doesn’t work – please see the section below.

Windows XP Open the device manager and locate the USB device as described above. Right click the device and select Properties. Select the Driver tab. Select Update Driver – this starts the Hardware Wizard. Select Install from a list or specific location, click Next

Picture 5 – be firm!

Select Don’t search. I will choose the driver to select Select Have Disk Browse to \HardwareDrivers\USB\W2K – select the file called siudi2000.inf (do NOT select miudi.inf, even if you come across it) Click Ok, then Next and finish the Wizard.

Finally check the device manager and make sure that you now see a Martin Intelligent Usb DMX Interface in the list – without the yellow exclamation mark.

If this procedure still doesn’t work – please see the section below.

If it still doesn’t work

Sometimes if the Hardware wizard gets really confused, it will ask for the location of the siudi2000. file – the file is located in \HardwareDrivers\USB\W2K – simply browse to that location and select the file.

Even if the procedure above is followed to the point there may still be problems. It may be necessary to delete certain Windows system (inf) files – if you are not sure what you are doing, please ask some who is to you.

Deleting the stored inf files (advanced users) During the installation of drivers Windows stores the inf files that contains information about the drivers on the hard disk. When trying to reinstall or update a driver, Windows seems to prefer these inf files, rather than the one you are trying to force it to use. This can lead to various errors, such as file not found or other when finishing the hardware wizard. The trick is simply to delete those stored inf files – here is how:

Locate the USB device in the device manager. Right click, and select uninstall. For the next bit, ignore any attempts (cancel any dialogs) from the system to install a new driver until you have finished. Open the \Inf folder (It may be hidden or blocked – set folder options to show hidden and system files, and allow access to all folders. Hit F3 to search for any files containing miudi – if any files are found, delete them. Then search for files containing siudi2000 – if any files are found, delete them. Go back to the device manager and click ‘Scan for hardware changes’ – when the Hardware Wizard starts, locate and load the Windows 2000 driver.